Forbidden City, USA

Chinatown Nightclubs, 1936-1970

“Put on some music from the 1930s and 1940s, start turning the pages of this remarkable volume, and step into the intoxicating and magical world of the Chinese American nightclub scene. Enjoy!”

From the foreword by LISA SEE
Bestselling author of China Dolls, Snow Flower and the Secret Fan

Winner of the 2015 American Book Award and now available in collectible hardcover, Forbidden City, USA captures the magic and glamour of the Chinatown nightclub scene, which peaked in San Francisco during World War II. In the 1930s and ’40s, audiences flocked to nightclubs to escape the problems of the day with a cocktail and a show. Oscar®-nominated filmmaker Arthur Dong spent thirty years interviewing the entertainers from this era, many of whom time had forgotten, and collecting hundreds of rare images and objects. The result is a sexy and insightful exploration of a time when Asian Americans pushed against exploitation and racism—as well as expectations from within their own community—to pursue their dreams of working in show business.

Here are the sassy, bold, and sometimes heartbreaking memories of dancers, singers, producers, and nightclub owners, as told in their own words. Meet the “Chinese Sinatra,” the “Chinese Ginger Rogers,” the “Chinese Fred Astaire” – witness the true-life stories behind China Dolls, the bestselling novel by Lisa See, who provides an insightful foreword to the book. Accompanying these previously unpublished stories are over four hundred stunning photos, postcards, menus, programs, and yes, even souvenir chopsticks. Together they recreate a forgotten era, taking readers on a dazzling tour of the old “Chop Suey Circuit.”

“East meets west, over cocktails. Over three decades, [Arthur Dong] has amassed what may be the world’s largest collection of Chinese American nightclub memorabilia, more than 1,000 pieces. About 400 of them appear in the book…examining an almost forgotten chapter in American nightlife.”

“This kind of stuff blows my mind. If you want to talk about pioneers in Asian American entertainment Arthur Dong’s new book, Forbidden City, USA, is a fascinating look at the Chinese American nightclub scene, which peaked in San Francisco during World War II.”